Yesterday, the Senate Committee on State Affairs voted out a top Pro-Life priority for the 86th Texas Legislature on a 7-0 vote in the first hearing on a Pro-Life bill this session. The Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 22 by Senator Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) will stop state and local taxpayer dollars from funding the abortion industry in Texas, and the Texas Senate has taken the first steps to move the bill through the legislative process. CSSB 22 is a legislative priority for Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.
Current state restrictions on funding abortion providers and their affiliates are subject to renewal in the state budget every two years, and these restrictions do not apply to local governments. CSSB 22 is necessary to make these Pro-Life policies permanent, enforceable, and applicable to cities and counties. The House companion is House Bill 1929 by Representative Candy Noble, which has not received a hearing in the House State Affairs Committee, yet. Read more about the No Taxpayer Funding of the Abortion Industry Act here.
The Texas Right to Life legislative team and dozens of grassroots activists registered and testified before the committee, voicing support for protecting Life and the consciences of taxpayers, while speaking against the government-subsidized abortion industry.
Texas Right to Life Director Elizabeth Graham testified on the numerous reasons the legislature should pass CSSB 22. She confirmed that there are “at least 2896 women’s health providers throughout the state able to provide the same services Planned Parenthood does.” Furthermore, she reminded the committee that the bill is a legislative priority of the Republican Party of Texas.
Texas Right to Life Senior Legislative Associate Emily Horne testified on the progress the state has made throughout the past several years in previous defunding efforts. But she indicated that “none of this permanently stops funding the abortion industry.” She closed by pointing out the great need for the bill.
While praising CSSB 22’s many merits, Texas Right to Life Legislative Director John Seago also stated, “the Senate should examine multiple ways to expand the impact of the bill.” This includes applying CSSB 22 to hospitals and higher education institutions, as well as disqualifying abortion providers and their affiliates from Medicaid by law.
Texas Right to Life applauds the Texas Senate and Senator Donna Campbell for recognizing the importance of CSSB 22, and we thank the Senate Committee on State Affairs for voting out the Pro-Life priority by an unanimous vote. Stay tuned to TexasRightToLife.com for more updates on CSSB 22 and other Pro-Life updates throughout the legislative session.
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